Plumb-bob suspension



June 7, 1966 c. STECKLE 3,254,413

PLUMP-BOB SUSPENSION Filed March 21, 1963 INVENTOR. CHARLES STECKLEBJIMjM Attorney United States Patent 3,254,418 PLUMB-BOB SUSPENSIONCharles Steckle, McCandless Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor toUnited States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar.21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,989 Claims. (Cl. 33-216) The present inventionrelates generally to measuring devices and, more particularly, has asits primary object the provision of an improved plumb-bob suspension.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved apparatus forsuspending a plumb-bob from the top of a structure to determine thevertical inclination of the structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which is especially suitable for use in determiningthe vertical inclinations of structures in crowded or obstructed areasWhere the use of conventional engineering (transit) equipment is notpossible.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the plumbbob suspension of theinvention as used in determining the vertical inclination of ablast-furnace stove;

FIGURE 2 is a partial enlarged front elevational view partly in sectionof the plumb-bob suspension of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III ofFIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the guide angle element of theplumb-bob suspension of the invention.

Hereinbelow there is described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, which is adapted for suspending a plumb-bob from the top of ablast-furnace stove to determine the inclination of the stove; but itshould be understood that the plumb-bob suspension apparatus of theinvention is not restricted to use with blast-furnace stoves, but may beused equally effectively to determine the inclination of other verticalstructures such as buildings, stacks, posts and the like, particularlywhere such structures are located in crowded or obstructed areas so thatthe use of conventional engineering instruments, such as transits, todetermine inclination is precluded.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2designates a conventionalblast-furnace stove having a dome 6 and aservice platform 4 centrally disposed on the dome 6.

The plumb-bob suspension of the invention, designated having a flange 18and a web 20 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured by the bottom of itsweb 20 to the dome 6 adjacent the periphery of its base. Thelongitudinal axis of the guide angle 16 is directed substantiallyparallel with and directed generally radially of the dome. One upper endof the flange 18 is tapered as at 22 to provide a leading end tofacilitate sliding of the other elements of the suspension of theinvention thereon, as will be more fully explained.

- Two spaced clips 24 formed of resilient flat band steel strap arewelded to the underside of the bar 10 adjacent its projecting end 12 andserve to support the bar on the guide angle 16. The clips 24 fitslidably over the flange 18 of the guide angle 16. A stop plate 26projects from the underside of the bar 10 spaced from the portion 12 andis adapted to abut the tapered end of the flange 18 when the bar ismounted on the guide "angle 16, as best shown in FIGURE 2. The abuttingrelation of stop plate 26 with the tapered end 22 of flange 18 insuresthat the end 12 of bar 10 will project the same distance beyond the sideof the stove each time the bar is placed on the angle 16.

In operation, to'determine the inclination of the stove 2, the safetychain 14 attached to the end of bar 10 is generally by reference numeral8, is shown installed on the dome 6 of the stove below and to one sideof the service platform 4. The apparatus of the invention includes anL-shape bar or handle 10 which is mounted to extend downwardly along oneside of the dome 6 and then project, as at 12, in a horizontal planenormal to the vertical axis of the stove for a distance of approximatelytwo feet beyond the outer periphery of the stove dome. The projectingportion 12 of the bar 10 is provided with vertically directed transverseholes 13 at calibrated, spaced intervals therealong for a purpose whichwill become apparent. If desired, the bar 10 may be in the form of apipe section so as to minimize the weight thereof.

The end of bar 10 opposite its projecting end 12 may rest upon therailing of the service platform but it is not rigidly connected thereto.A safety chain 14 connected with the service platform railing and thebar 10' 12 of the bar 10. The leading end of the plumb-bob line 28projecting from the hole 13a may be looped so that a relatively heavyplumb-bob may be attached to the plumb-bob line after it has beenlowered to the bottom of the stove. With the plumb-bob line 28 beingheld in check so that it does not descend from the top of the stove, theapparatus of the invention is placed in position by manipulating the bar10 to attach it to the guide angle 16 by sliding the clips 24 along theflange 18 until stop plate 26 abuts the tapered end of the flange.

After the bar 10 has been thus positioned and secured, the plumb-bobline 28 is lowered through the hole 13a into which it was threaded adistance X to a point adjacent the base of the stove. Since the distancebetween each of the holes 13 and the side of the stove is calibrated,the distance Y between the top of the stove and the plumb-bob line 28can be readily determined. The series of calibrated holes 13 in theprojecting'end 12 ofv the bar '10 provides suflicient flexibility toinsure that the plumb-bob line 28 will clear the side of the stove allalong its length to its base. The greater the degree of inclination ofthe stove, the greater the distance from the side of the stove that, theplumb-bob line must be suspended to insure clearance. not clear the sideof the stove along its entire length, it is retracted and threadedthrough another hole 13 which is a further distance from the top of thestove.

After the plumb-bob line has been suspended .from the projecting end 12of the bar 10 the required distance to the base of the stove, the upperend of the plumb-'bob line is secured by fastening it to the upper partof bar 10 by means of a clamp 29 and a plumb-bob 30 is attached to theloop on the bottom of the plumb-bob line. Then the distance Z betweenthe stove shell at its base and the plumb-bob line 28 is measured.

The plumb-bob line 28 is then raised andthe bar 10 is removed from theguide angle 16 and moved degrees around the dome where it isre-installed on another guide angle affixed to the dome at this point.The plumb-bob line is suspended through hole 13a a predeterminedverticaldistance X again and the distance Z is measured.

Patented June 7, 1966 If the plumb-bob line does Direction and extent ofinclination of the stove can then be calculated in the usual manner fromthe measurements X, Y and Z.

It should now be apparent that I have accomplished the objects initiallyset forth. I' have provided an improved apparatus for suspending aplumb-bob from the top of a vertical structure to determine theinclination of the structure. I have provided a plumb-bob suspensionwhich is especially suitable for use in determining the inclinations ofstructures in crowded or obstructed areas where the use of conventionalengineering equipment is not possible.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for suspending a plumb-bob from the top of a substantiallyvertical structure for determining the inclination thereof whichcomprises a way rigidly mounted on the top of said structure, a supportslidably fitted on said way, and a bar rigidly mounted on said supportwith a portion thereof projecting beyond one edge of said top, theprojecting portion of said bar having at least one transverse openingtherethrough for engaging a plumb-bob line.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which the projecting portion ofsaid bar extends in a horizontal plane normal to the vertical axis ofsaid structure.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including means on said bar adaptedto engage said way to limit the movement of said support therealong.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said way is in the form of aT-angle section disposed with its flange portion spaced above said top,and said support constituting a clip fastened to said bar and slidablyfitted on said flange portion.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 4 including a plate rigidly aflixed toand projecting normal from said bar adjacent said clip, said plate beingadapted to engage one end of said flange portion to limit the movement.of said clip and bar along said flange portion.

No references cited.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING A PLUMB-BOB FROM THE TOP OF A SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICAL STRUCTURE FOR DETERMINING THE INCLINATION THEREOF WHICHCOMPRISES A WAY RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF SAID STRUCTURE, A SUPPORTSLIDABLY FITTED ON SAID WAY, AND A BAR RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTWITH A PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING BEYOND ONE EDGE OF SAID TOP, THEPROJECTING PORTION OF SAID BAR HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSE OPENINGTHERETHROUGH FOR ENGAGING A PLUMB-BOB LINE.